Unit Outline
Mao used the term 'walking on two legs' to refer to his belief that China could achieve the simultaneous growth of food production on the land and industrial production in the urban areas. These dual aims of economic policy were hugely ambitious for any nation, let alone one that was recovering from not just a world war, but a recent civil war and current war in Korea with the USA. Long-term growth and recovery was not helped by Mao’s unswerving belief that the transition to socialism could be achieved in a matter of years.
Unsurprisingly, the Chinese economy faced huge disruption in the 1950s and 1960s as economics continued to serve political ends. Nationalisation and a move to Soviet style central planning would achieve huge growth rates in industry. But this came at the expense of manufacturing and consumer goods. Likewise, collectivisation and requisitioning would introduce serfdom to the peasantry, with a consequent decline in production. The planned nature of these collectives would further erode the autonomy of the peasants, culminating in the Great Famine of 1959-61.
Clearly, any large-scale political and economic changes can have a huge impact on society, and increases in certain areas of production will have any impact on other areas. Whether the CPC were successful in handling these contradictions in the transition to socialism is a key question for this unit. Therefore the statement of inquiry is:
Unsurprisingly, the Chinese economy faced huge disruption in the 1950s and 1960s as economics continued to serve political ends. Nationalisation and a move to Soviet style central planning would achieve huge growth rates in industry. But this came at the expense of manufacturing and consumer goods. Likewise, collectivisation and requisitioning would introduce serfdom to the peasantry, with a consequent decline in production. The planned nature of these collectives would further erode the autonomy of the peasants, culminating in the Great Famine of 1959-61.
Clearly, any large-scale political and economic changes can have a huge impact on society, and increases in certain areas of production will have any impact on other areas. Whether the CPC were successful in handling these contradictions in the transition to socialism is a key question for this unit. Therefore the statement of inquiry is:
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STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Revolutionary changes to economic systems can have drastic impacts on natural and human landscapes and resources
GLOBAL CONTEXT
Orientation in Time and Space (Natural and human landscapes and resources) - Students will explore personal histories; homes and journeys; turning points in humankind; discoveries; explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between, and the interconnectedness of, individuals and civilizations, from personal, local and global perspectives.
KEY HISTORY CONCEPT
Change - The study of history involves investigation of the extent to which people and events bring about change. Discussion of the concept of change can encourage sophisticated discussions such as encouraging students to think about, and look for, change where some claim none exists, or using evidence to challenge orthodox theories and assumptions about people and events that it is claimed led to significant change. Students’ questions and judgments about historical change should be based on deep understanding of content and on comparison of the situation before and after the events under examination.
RELATED HISTORY CONCEPT(S)
Innovation & Revolution - Innovation incorporates the understanding of processes that drive change and invention. In history, this concept looks at the process of generating new ideas, events, movements, products or solutions through the alteration, transformation, reorganization, restructuring, rearrangement, or renovation of existing ideas, events, movements, products or solutions. Innovation involves individuals and societies because they use their capacity to create, contrive and initiate a capacity that can lead to both positive and negative consequences in the short term and the long term.
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1. Did the First Five Year Plan achieve its goals?
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Inspired by Soviet central planning models, the First Five Year Plan began Mao's 'general line' transition towards a socialist economy. In terms of industrial production the plan was a great success. But to what extent this created pressures on other areas of the economy is debated.
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2. What happened during the Great Leap Forward?
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The Great Leap Forward has become infamous for the huge economic, social, and political strains it created for the CPC. Promising to economically outperform the UK within 15 years, the Plan resulted in the deaths of at least 30 million people. How did this happen?
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3. Who was responsible for the Great Famine?
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The Great Chinese Famine or 'Three Bad Years' of 1959-61 was one of the biggest man-made famines in human history. The scale of the event is astounding. What caused it, how it impacted China, and who is to blame are all highly significant questions that historians debate today.
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4. How did the economy change in the 1960s?
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By 1961 the failures of the GLF could no longer be denied. Its policies were quietly dropped in favour of more moderate economic policies. Yet in pursuing this, the CPC found itself divided over the extent to which ideology should take precedence over economics.
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5. Assessment: How successful was the socialist economy?
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If one compares the state of China's economy in the 1960s to that of the 1940s, then clearly Mao Zedong had achieved fantastic growth and stability. But nevertheless, many years were wasted, with huge human and economic failures. This lesson summarises this debate.
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